Foldable umbrella.



A. M..MORTON.

-FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1908.

940,346. Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

ALFRED MONROE MORTON, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

roLnABLn UMBRELLA.

se ate.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 439,895.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, ALF-Run M. MORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in fold-able umbrellas, or parasols, and especially pertains to the staff or rod thereof, in connection with the ribs used in connection therewith.

The object of my invention is to produce an umln'ella that may be readily and easily folded in such shape as will adapt it to be placed in a suit case or indeed the same may, by removing the cover, be reduced sufliciently in size to enable a person to place the same in a good-sized pocket.

Another object of my invention is to produce a foldable umbrella, which may be opened and closed in the usual manner, without interference with the mechanism necessary to make such umbrella foldable; and such action may take place without requiring the complication of disconnecting any of the parts.

Still another object of my invention is to improve on foldable umbrellas to such an extent that the same may be reduced to sucli size as to form a compact package; and I attain this by providing a cover adapted to be removed at will. By providing for the removal of the cover I thus afford the opportunity of removing the same at will, and replacing it for one of another color.

I It will be observed that my invention will be of great convenience and utility to the traveling man or woman who does not care to be hampered by carrying an umbrella in their hands. Again it will please the fashionable lady who wants to change the covering of the parasol to match the color of her dress.

Still another object of my device is to provide an umbrella, the staff or rod of which may be used by the old and decrepit as a walking stick, while the cover and ribs are packed in a suit case or elsewhere.

\Vith these and other objects in View, my invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and particularly pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

The above objects I attain by virtue of the construction, which I will now proceed to explain and describe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is a vertical sectional view through a portion of an umbrella, embodying my invention, the body being shown in open position. Fig. 2, is a plan view of a portion thereof, the removable cover partly folded back to disclose the fastening means employed between said cover and ribs. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the umbrella, showing one of the hooks on removable cover and the ring on one of the ribs in engagement with each other. Fig. 4, a vertical section thereof, showing one of the hooks on removable cover, and the ring on one of the ribs in engagement with each other.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, my invention is described as follows The staff or rod 1, which is divided into sections 2, 3, l and 5, has a compartment 6, provided in the handle section 2, which is covered by a screw-cap 7. The frame of said umbrella is composed of the ribs 8, which are braced by the braces 9. Said ribs are. provided at or near their outer ends with perforated ears l0,through which are passed rings 11, the function of which will be pointed out later. The ribs are adapted to be folded at the points 12, which points are approximately three-quarters of an inch from the outer ends of the inner sections 8 of said ribs. The portions of the inner sections 8 which extend below the pivotal points 12, will be hereinafter referred to as lugs and indicated by the designation 8 The upper face of the inner sections 8 are concaved on their upper faces while the under faces of the outer sections 8 are similarly formed. By this arrangement the outer sections will overlap said lugs, fitting snugly into the concavity of the lugs 8 said lugs holding said outer sections out straight and stiff and at the same time steadying them. The inner ends of the inner sections are pivotally connected to the usual notch 1.3, said notch having a central hole 1 through which is inserted the neck 15, of the tip 5, thus holding said notch securely in position against vertical movement. The inner ends of the braces 9, are pivotally connected to the runner 16, said runner having the usual vertically disposed slot 17, cut therein. Said runner slides freely on the rod or staff 1, and may assume,

as is usual with most umbrellas, two positions, being held in either of such positions by the springactuated catches 18, said catches being provided With notches 19.

Referring to the cover 20, which is pro vided with a series of rings 21, which are the same in number as the ribs of the frame, the same is provided with hooks 22, one of each corresponding to one of the rings 10, of the ribs. Through each ring on said cover passes its corresponding rib, for the purpose of holding the cover securely to the frame. Said removable cover has, at its center, a hole 23, reinforced by means of a metallic ring 2 said ring fitting snugly over the tip 5, of the staff.

lVhen it is desired to remove the cover from the frame the hooks are disengaged from the rings 011 said ribs, and the outer sections being folded back, the rings on the removable cover are slipped therefrom.

It is thought that the operation of my in vention will be clearly deducted from the above description thereof, which is sufficiently clear to enable one skilled in the art to have a full and complete idea as to the workings of my device.

Though I have specifically described my invention I may exercise the right to make such modifications and changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the elements thereof as will clearly fall within the scope and spirit of my claim.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a foldable umbrella comprising ribs, means midway between the outer and inner extreme ends of each rib to hold the cover more securely in place said means consisting of a plurality of rings secured to said cover and each of which encircles a corresponding rib, a series of hooks secured in spaced relation along the lower edge of said cover, a series of corresponding rings, one of each connected to a rib at its outer end, said hooks of said cover adapted to engage the rings of said ribs, said first-mentioned rings together with said second-mentioned rings with their corresponding hooks cooperating to hold said cover in proper place.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED MONROE MORTON.

lVitnesses J. E. BRAZIL, H. A. h IASHBURN. 

